“What is he?” Waylon managed to ask. “Is he some mutant?”
Thankara licked her lips, pausing as if she wanted to take a moment to craft her answer. “They are our kin.”
He blinked. “That thing is human?”
She nodded. “Twisted and warped by years of training, torture. Entire generations bred for war, for taking over Ashia. The evil one, Adalric, called them brutas. Once part of the lower class, the brutas were implanted with devices allowing them to be psychically controlled in times of war. They were the perfect warrior.” Her eyes narrowed. “The most dreadful enemy. But, following the war, Shanda decided to embrace them as citizens.”
Waylon watched Corthaw descend into the caverns. He had, of course, heard of genetic manipulation and DNA experiments to enhance strength, sight or other att
